Indian lyricist Gulzar and director Vishal Bhardwaj have both cut short their trip to Pakistan and returned to India.
They were scheduled to attend the Karachi Literary Festival that starts on Friday. Gulzar was listed as the keynote speaker at the inaugural session of the three-day event. Bhardwaj’s wife Rekha was also in Pakistan. The trio had spent the last two days in Lahore. Media reports said Gulzar arrived in Pakistan a day ago and went to his hometown Dena in district Jhelum. However, the Indian High Commission called him back and sent him to India, saying that situation in Pakistan was not suitable for him. Sources said the Indian HC sent Gulzar back due to possible reaction to the hanging of Afzal Guru.
In a statement, the Indian High Commission denied that it had any role to play in their premature return. “Gulzar saab’s visit to Pakistan was a private one. The Indian High Commission, Islamabad was not aware of his itinerary and no one from the mission gave him any advice regarding his return to India. In fact the Indian High Commission was not even in contact with him. The news that he has been advised to return to the India by the Indian High Commission, Islamabad is false and fabricated,” the statement said.
